Article written about PSP Golf by Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS  an expert in the field of Human Performance


Your brain and nervous system are pattern generators.  Precise mental focus and repetition of proper golf swing mechanics lead to skill development.  Conversely, when physical and mental fatigue is present, the golfer tends not to execute the proper swing mechanics and poor habits develop.  One aspect of my work with all athletes addresses nutritional biochemistry and the impact it has on sports performance and accelerated learning.  I also focus on skills improvement and enhancing one's cognitive performance.

It's generally recognized in many endeavors, that it takes numerous repetitions of a given skill executed correctly, to take it to a level of unconscious competency.  That's where "The Little One" comes in.

Once we grasp this principle of neuroscience we can appreciate the wisdom of "The Little One" practice club by
PSP Golf.  Since the brain and nervous system are pattern generators, "The Little One" training golf club has a smaller surface area to train your brain to hit the golf ball.  Through repetition and increased concentration with a smaller clubface, the golfer fine tunes the contact point to a smaller area.  Therefore, when the golfer transitions back to the larger clubface, the contact point is more concentrated towards the pure, solid, and perfect spot on the clubface.  The results are increased clubhead awareness, better contact, slower swing rhythm and improved consistency overall.  As we all know, this leads to lower golf scores.

In summary, the habit of finding the ideal contact point is then formed by using "The Little One" golf club.  My research into human performance and neuroscience in many areas supports the methodology and philosophy behind
"The Little One" by PSP Golf.



Optimum Golf Performance Blog:

A term used in the world of human performance and golf performance is Neuromuscular Reeducation.  As it applies to golf, it refers to the concept that your brain and nervous system has developed circuits or neural networks aligned with your habitual golf biomechanics and habitual golf movement patterns.  Neuromuscular reeducation comes into play when golfers are looking to change aspects of their golf swing mechanics in order to improve drive distance and other aspects of golf performance.

This topic points to why it's important to get great golf coaching as a beginner.  By doing this you won't be installing faulty golf biomechanics or swing mechanics which are reinforced by the laying down of myelin which I wrote about in a previous post.  Myelin will reinforce whatever golf swing mechanics you practice, good or bad.

Neuromuscular reeducation comes into play when a golfer is attempting to, in essence, erase the golf swing that exists on there biomechanics human hard drive and install new golf biomechanics software in order to improve golf performance.

If you are in a situation where you've come to the conclusion or realization that your golf execution and golf swing mechanics are faulty and your golf performance is less than stellar, you can change it.  What will be required are new practice habits, performed with awareness.  Over time these circuits will also become myelinated and begin to run unconsciously, just as the old ones did.

     -Joseph Sale, CNC, CSCS

In this article I will discuss neuroscience, mirror neurons, mental rehearsal, and their potential influence on the improvement of golf performance as well as the implications for the larger world of human performance.

Mirror neurons are considered a relatively recent development in the field of neuroscience, being discovered in the 1990s.

One of the more well know researchers in the field of neuroscience is Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, a Professor at the University of California, San Diego.

V.S. Ramachandran is known for emphasizing the significance and potential implications stemming from discovery of mirror neurons. 

Well what is neuroscience?

Neuroscience, also known as neurobiology is a broad scoped interdisciplinary science that studies the brain and nervous system.

Next, what are mirror neurons?

Mirror neurons are brain cells in certain parts of the brain that fire when an action is performed and also fire when that same action is observed being   performed by another person.

Let me give you an example. Mirror neurons fire when you move your spine into lateral flexion. Mirror neurons also fire when you observe someone moving their spine into lateral flexion.

A recently asked question by many is what are the implications for learning a new skill like golf or upgrading the quality of performance of an existing skill based on the existence of mirror neurons?

Since to varying degrees we learn by imitation, is the role of observation a larger part of performance improvement or performance enhancement than we previously thought?

Can we internalize specific golf skills and improve golf performance and golf biomechanics by observation alone?

This remains to be seen.

My guess is that if mirror neurons and observation alone can influence the improvement of golf performance and golf skill acquisition it will probably be due to the quality of the observation. What I mean by that is passive observation would probably have less influence on the improvement of golf biomechanics, golf skill acquisition etc than a higher quality observation that includes the intention of internalizing what is being observed.

Let's cover some brain anatomy as a reference point. The motor cortex and the pre motor cortex are found in the frontal lobe of the brain. The motor cortex is involved in the initiation of voluntary motor functions, life the golf swing. Mirror neuron activity was first discovered in the pre motor cortex.

So, theoretically, can watching your favorite golfer, whether it be Tiger Woods, Ricky Barnes, Rory Mcllroy etc influence the quality of your golf game, golf biomechanics and golf skill acquisition?

Maybe, to some degree.

Sean Foley is a well known golf instructor and swing coach of numerous high end golfers. He takes a scientific approach to golf biomechanics which ulitimately influences myelin production, and the creation of new neural pathways in the brain. It would make sense that with that style of coaching, once the ground work is built from a purely biomechanical and physical execution perspective, that mental rehearsal would be an additional tool to incorporate.

It appears that there would be a relationship between mirror neurons and mental rehearsal, creative imagery, and visualization.

Observation gives us a template which we can imitate, with our body or through mental rehearsal/visualization.

Mental rehearsal or visualization have been used for years by high end athletes as a way to improve performance and get reps in order to drive motor skills into the realm of unconscious competence.

Experts in the field of visualization and sports psychology have said that the subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real or an imagined experience. They go on to say that mental reps have a great value in performance enhancement. This would apply to golf as well.

Do motor neurons have any influence on this process?

Maybe they do.

Observation leads to imitation. it gives us an ideal to model.

Brain and neuroscience research has made leaps and bounds in recent years.

A great example of this is the concept of neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity is a concept used in neuroscience that refers to the ability of the brain and nervous system to make structural and functional changes as a result of experiential input. The old school belief by many neuroscientistsd was that the brain and nervous system are relatively unchangeable beyond a specific point in childhood. More recent research tells us that many components of the brain remain plastic and malleable well into adulthood.

So, in closing, it is clear that as we continue to make finer distinctions as well as completely new breakthroughs in the field of neuroscience, the possibilities for golf performance specifically and the broader arena of human performance are endless. We may look back at this time in history and our beliefs about the brain and nervous system and compare it to the time in history when we thought the world was flat.


     -Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS







Are you warming up and stretching correctly before you golf?

Are you warming up and stretching at all before you golf?

It's easy to do and it's easy not to do.

By taking time to move your joints and articulations, and their corresponding muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and connective tissue in an intelligent manner you prepare the body and nervous system for the upcoming golf specific event and the unique biomechanical forces involved in the golf swing.

And make no mistake about it.  With golf club head speeds as high as 125 mph, the biomechanical forces involved in the golf swing are absolutely unique.  Add rotational forces and components to the golf swing and you have created an athletic event that requires a fine tuned physical machine if you have any intention of playing great golf and avoiding physical breakdown of key structures over time.

Blood flow to these areas increases during golf specific dynamic warm up and golf specific stretching and synovial fluid, which reduces friction within the joints, acts as a transport medium for nutrients and provides shock absorbing benefits, increases it's circulation.

Golf specific dynamic warm ups increases the temperature of connective tissue leading to greater dynamic pliability and elasticity.

Mild to moderate dynamic joint movement provides more benefits than static stretching in many cases, especially older golfers, however each individual is different.

Let's not forget the all important nervous system.  A dynamic golf warm up in particular, wakes up and prepares the nervous system for the upcoming golf swing biomechanics.  It's not only about preparing joints and connective tissue.  It's absolutely also about optimizing the nervous system.

     - Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS







Intelligently applied core conditioning has a positive influence on many aspects of your golf game and golf performance including optimum golf club head speed, golf address posture, golf back swing, golf down swing, and golf follow through among others.

The transverse abdominus, also known as the TVA, is one of four muscles that make up the anterior and lateral core of the abdomen, the others being the internal obliques, external obliques and the rectus abdominus.  The TVA is the deepest of the core musculature and its fibers run horizontally, acting as a corset or girdle around the midsection.

Keep in mind that the core,more formally, also consists of the posterior musculature of the spine including the erector spinae group and multifidus, among others, which will be discussed in an upcoming article.

The TVA provides stability for the spine and its corresponding inter vertebral discs potentially reducing compressive forces.  Since the TVA is the deepest musculature of the core, and produces very little, if any actual movement or range of motion upon contraction, greater anatomical understanding as far as location and function will assist in the training, contracting, and activating the TVA as a part of your golf fitness and golf specific exercise program.

If the TVA is not engaging there can be a compensatory involvement from the other core stabilizers which may not be beneficial.

There is a body of research that points to the idea that the TVA along with the multifidus muscle, contract as a precursor, directly before limb movement.  That points to the idea of trunk stabilization as a prerequisite to dynamic movement.

The internal obliques are the third layer of the core, from the inside out, and most superficial.  They are involved in flexion, rotation and abdominal compression.

Last but not least is the rectus abdominus which is found along the front or anterior trunk.  Rectus abdominus runs fromthe pubic bone to the lower ribs.  Its major function is to shorten the distance between the pelvis and the ribs, known as flexion.

There you have it.  The individual the individual players of the anterior and lateral human core.

In addition to improving many components of your golf game, conditioning your core can improve your posture, create a sense of stability and being centered, improve overall muscular coordination and balance, and improve overall spine function and that's the short list.

Enjoy the process.

     - Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS






Optimum thoracic / mid-back spine health and mobility influences the generation of power and drive distance in golf.

The thoracic spine is a series of vertebral segments below the cervical spine and above the lumbar spine.  In essence it is your mid-back.

Here lies the problem for many golfers.  If a golfer has limited or sub par thoracic rotation or mobility the body may compensate in other segments of the spine above and below the mid-back as well as the shoulders.  This can contribute to injury in the short term or over the long haul.

The spine is a dynamic unit.  All work together.  Limited range of motion in one segment will be compensated for in another segment.  Especially in a rotational sport like golf.  It is the compensation that can create problems.

Warming up the thoracic spine before golfing and exercising and stretching the thoracic spine as a part of your golf exercise program will contribute to improving drive distance and will lead to long term benefits.

     - Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS






Most people and many golfers think of the shoulder as one unit and in actuality is it far from that.  It is often called the shoulder complex and that is an accurate descriptive term.

Complex.

The shoulder has largest range of motion of any joint or joint complex in the human body.  Along with this great capacity for range of motion comes the potential for many types of shoulder problems.  Especially in golfers.

To start off, the shoulder complex is made up of 4 joints not 1 as is commonly assumed.  They work synergistically in the golfer and in all people.

A dysfunctional state in one of these joints can create functional compensation in other joints of the shoulder complex.  For example, limited range of motion in the scapulothoracic joint of the shoulder due to injury etc, is many times compensated for in the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder.

Intelligently applied strength and conditioning for golfers / exercise for golfers goes a long way in keeping all your moving parts like the shoulder in their most healthy state and in avoiding unnecessary and premature wear and tear problems.

Today's new breed of golfers look like well conditioned athletes from many other sports.

Guys like Ricky Barnes pay attention to the many variables that influence golf performance like golf specific exercise and sports nutrition.

     - Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS







It is the development of power as it relates to golf that translates into clubhead speed.  Clubhead speeds translate into longer drives.  So, when it comes to physical conditioning, specifically for golf what's involved?

First and foremost is the concept that the brain which initiates muscular movement and motor control doesn't operate within the context of individual muscle isolation.  So, we primarily want whole body exercises and / or compound movements in order to improve golf performance.  As a general rule compound movements will involve 2 or more joints and numerous muscle groups.

Now let's take a step back and define power and then distinguish between power and strength.

Power is the ability to exert force at higher speeds and / or how quickly force can be exerted.  Power is demonstrated through force as it relates to time, the time being quicker as opposed top slower.

Another way of looking at it is the formula, Power = Strength x Speed

So a golfer may be strong but not be powerful.

A golfer becomes more powerful when he / she implements a power component into their strength & conditioning program.

Don't misunderstand me.  Strength development is an important component in improving performance and drive distance.  Actually it is the foundation upon which power is built on.  However strength development is not the end game.

When I look at golfers and their drive, for example Jeff Sluman, Keegan Bradley, Tiger Woods and others it's fascinating to watch how fluid and fluent they are in generating power on their drive.  Tiger Woods clubhead speed is reported to be as high as 125 mph.

     - Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS